The Greens who might take a run at Annamie Paul’s old job

OTTAWA—It’s nearly game-time for the Inexperienced management race.

One week after the occasion opened purposes for potential candidates, the Star has confirmed at the very least eight Greens are mulling a run. These embody two provincial leaders, a retired professor who needs Canada to have 5 nationwide holidays each time a season modifications, and two potential candidates who wish to change the occasion so it has two “co-leaders” as a substitute of 1.

The stakes are excessive for a political group that’s nonetheless attempting to recuperate from the party infighting that characterised the yearlong tenure of its previous elected chief, Annamie Paul.

Right here’s an early look, in alphabetical order, at Greens who say they could enter the management contest that concludes Nov. 19:

Sarah Gabrielle Baron

A resident of Manitoulin Island, Ont. who has been a Inexperienced member since she was 17, Baron advised the Star she is contemplating a run for chief. An avowed campaigner towards nuclear power, Baron stated she needs the occasion to “get again to its roots” by championing environmental causes.

She additionally stated the occasion must get higher at resolving inside conflicts, quoting a colleague who likes to say the “local weather disaster is larger than anybody’s ego.”

Dalila Elhak

The Greens’ three-time candidate within the Quebec Metropolis driving of Beauport—Limoilou has been signalling her intention to run for chief since final fall, when she took to social media to blast Paul — then occasion chief — as a “shame.”

In subsequent movies declaring her intention to run final October, Elhak stated in French that she needs the Inexperienced Social gathering to defend Quebec values and guarantee Canada has a greater worldwide picture and protects the atmosphere.

Naomi Hunter

Hunter is the chief of the Saskatchewan Inexperienced Social gathering. In accordance with her web site, she runs a household farm and teaches health lessons for seniors. She advised the Star that she would possibly bounce within the race, relying on who else runs.

“I’m reserving the correct to throw my hat within the ring if we see that that is the place I can finest serve,” stated Hunter, stating she believes the occasion wants candidates with a historical past of management.

Najib Jutt

Jutt is a political strategist in Alberta who has labored with events throughout the political spectrum, from Conservatives to New Democrats and Greens. Having supported Paul as an adviser within the final federal marketing campaign, Jutt says the occasion must get higher at chatting with outstanding points and connecting them with basic Inexperienced environmental considerations.

“Each month on this nation now we have an enormous occasion occurring, and we as a celebration haven’t accomplished job of weighing in on these occasions,” he stated.

Anna Keenan

Keenan, a former Inexperienced candidate in Prince Edward Island, advised the Star by e-mail that she is “flattered” persons are naming her as a attainable management contender. With out ruling herself out, she stated “folks first began suggesting I ought to run on election night time final 12 months.”

Keenan additionally stated she helps altering the occasion in order that it has a “co-leadership mannequin” as a substitute of a single chief, an aspiration she shares with Chad Walcott, one other potential candidate from Quebec. They each need the occasion to be higher organized and finally win extra seats, she added.

Alex Tyrrell

The chief of the Quebec Greens is contemplating a run for the federal job. As an “eco-socialist,” Tyrrell says he needs to take the Greens to the left, and set up them as an “outspoken voice towards battle.” For instance, he stated the Greens ought to sharply criticize the federal government’s deliberate improve in navy spending and argue that Canada attempt to dealer peace as a substitute of its present stance on the battle in Europe, which is to ship weapons and cash to assist Ukraine towards the Russian invasion.

He additionally stated he would “wish to clear up loads of the poisonous infighting” inside the occasion.

Chad Walcott

Together with Keenan, Walcott shouldn’t be ruling out working for the management. In an e-mail to the Star, Walcott stated that, like Keenan, he needs the Greens to undertake a “co-leadership mannequin.”

The previous Inexperienced candidate from Quebec additionally stated he and Keenan wish to “empower our members” and provides extra sources to native driving associations and assist youthful members.

Shodja Eddin Ziaian

Ziaian admits a few of his concepts “would possibly look very weird,” however he advised the Star he needs to run for Inexperienced chief to assist spur a shift in considering that can “save the planet.” For the 78-year-old economist who taught at York College, meaning pushing Canada to a four-day work week, instituting 5 holidays at each change of season to focus on the significance of nature, and begin utilizing a nationwide happiness index as a substitute of measures of productiveness as financial indicators.

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